The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Merchant Group - Chapter 199

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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The Youngest Son of the Eunhae Trading Company Chapter 199

Chapter 199. Elder Brother Jin-ho’s Spring (3)

That day, I left the Eunhae Trading Company with the invitation in hand.
Of course, work was piling up, but those tasks could wait a little longer.
If necessary, I could reduce my sleep or pull an all-nighter.
But Ha Young Lady’s matter was urgent.
“Should we head to the Changin Escort Agency?”
I nodded at Seo-woo Warrior’s question.
“Yes.”
Today, my guards were Seo-woo Warrior and Lee Pil Warrior. I set out toward the Changin Escort Agency with Palgap and the two of them.
Ha Young Lady worked as an escort master at the Changin Escort Agency, so I should be able to find her there.
Soon we arrived at the Changin Escort Agency.
The Changin Escort Agency wasn’t far from the Eunhae Trading Company.
That’s why Elder Brother Jin-ho could visit here once every four days without fail.
Well, he probably would have done so even if it were farther.
“Where are you from?”
I answered the Gate Keeper’s question.
“I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company. I’ve come to meet with the Lord of the Changin Escort Agency.”
“Ah! We’ve been expecting you. Please come right in.”
Thanks to sending word ahead, I was able to enter immediately.
However, a familiar Attendant approached me and bowed with an apologetic expression.
“I’m terribly sorry. An urgent guest has just arrived, and the Lord is currently in discussion with them…”
“It’s fine. Such things happen when you run an escort agency. I’ll take a look around the agency for a moment.”
“Ah, is that so?”
The Attendant brightened and said so.
“Then I’ll have someone show you around.”
After a brief wait, an escort master approached us.
“Ah! Small Guild Master!”
“It’s been a while.”
Since this was an escort master I had worked with on a previous escort mission, I greeted him warmly. Then, guided by him, I toured the agency.
The Training Ground occupied more space than I had expected.
“The Training Ground is quite spacious.”
Seo-woo Warrior provided an explanation.
“Since escort agencies handle both transportation and protection, the importance of martial arts training and physical conditioning is high. That’s why most personnel must train consistently whenever they’re not on assignment.”
“I see, that makes sense.”
“The higher one’s martial skill level, the higher one’s rank or the safer one becomes, so there’s no choice but to always put effort into training.”
At the words of Seo-woo Warrior, the former Pyodo, the Escort Master of the Changin Escort Agency nodded in agreement.
As I glanced around here and there, I spotted a group of women.
Judging by their attire, they appeared to be Escort Masters?
While most Escort Masters were men, there were certainly female Escort Masters as well.
Then Ha Young Lady must be among them.
I hadn’t heard that she was on an escort mission.
Who could she be?
I realized that while I knew of Ha Su-min Young Lady, I had never actually seen her.
“Wow, they’re incredibly beautiful women.”
At Palgap’s words, the Escort Master laughed and replied.
“They are the pride of our Pyo Bureau. In particular, Ha Escort Master is one of our bureau’s dragons and phoenixes.”
“Dragons and phoenixes?”
“Yes, you know how it is in the Martial Arts World? Like the Five Dragons and Three Phoenixes.”
“Ah….”
In the Martial Arts World, unmarried late-stage masters renowned for both martial prowess and beauty were called dragons and phoenixes. Men were compared to dragons, women to phoenixes.
“Our Pyo Bureau also has those who receive such acclaim, and Ha Escort Master is one of them.”
“I’m curious who she is.”
“She’s the Escort Master second from the left over there.”
….
Indeed, Elder Brother Jin-ho had every reason to fall in love.
She was a beauty striking enough to stand out even among them.
“But it seems she’ll soon be removed from the dragons and phoenixes.”
“Pardon?”
“You haven’t heard? Eun Jin-ho Small Guild Master visits constantly. And though she doesn’t say it, Ha Escort Master seems to have feelings for Eun Jin-ho Small Guild Master as well.”
“Ah… I see.”
If even the Escort Masters knew… Oh my, Elder Brother Jin-ho.
But looking at her from the outside, there was no way to tell she suffered from severed pulse syndrome.
She appeared quite healthy, and my Master had even praised her martial skills as exceptional.
Indeed, there were no symptoms.
That’s why no one could have known.
But it was certain that Ha Young Lady would die from triple severed pulse within a year.
I pondered for a moment before approaching them.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“Oh!”
“My! Small Guild Master.”
Fortunately, among them was an Escort Master I had met before.
She was one of the Escort Masters who had accompanied me when I traveled to Luoyang with my Mother previously.
“Ah, In is here as well.”
“Yes.”
She introduced me to the other warriors.
“Allow me to introduce myself. I am Eun Seo-ho, Small Guild Master of the Eunhae Trading Company.”
“Ah!”
“Pleased to meet you.”
“Delighted.”
“Yes, I’m glad we’ve had the chance to meet like this. I came to pay my respects and express my hope that, should we work together on one of our Eunhae Trading Company’s escort missions in the future, I might count on your cooperation.”
“Of course.”
“The Eunhae Trading Company has been a valued client of our Pyo Bureau for many years, so it’s only natural.”
As we exchanged pleasantries, I took a subtle look at Ha Young Lady.
Hmm?
From a distance, I hadn’t noticed, but now that I could see her up close, I felt something—an inexplicable sense of obstruction.
As if something were blocked…
If this were Ha Young Lady’s severed meridian condition, why couldn’t the others sense it?
Ah… could it be because of that?
The Hyun Ryong Sacred Body.
The only difference between me and everyone else was that.
Then does the Hyun Ryong Sacred Body possess some ability to perceive things like severed meridians?
I would need to investigate this further.
But judging from this oppressive sensation, it was certain that something was amiss with Ha Young Lady.
And it was surely the severed meridian condition.
By the time this illness reveals itself naturally, it will already be too late.
Just then, an attendant came running from the distance.
For now, I should meet with the Lord and think about this afterward.

A moment later,
I found myself seated across from the Lord and Master in the Guest Reception Room of the Changin Escort Agency.
“It’s been quite some time since we last met.”
“Both the Small Guild Master and I have been equally busy, so it’s unavoidable, isn’t it? Haha.”
Watching the Lord laugh heartily, I couldn’t help but smile awkwardly in return.
“But what brings you here? Has there been some mistake on our part?”
“Not at all.”
I waved my hand as I spoke.
“The Changin Escort Agency’s services have always been satisfactory—I have no complaints whatsoever. The reason I’ve come is that I’ve just turned twenty years old.”
“Oh! Has the Small Guild Master already reached such an age?”
“Yes.”
I withdrew an invitation from my sleeve and extended it as I spoke.
“So I’ve come to invite you and the members of the Pyo Bureau to my birthday celebration.”
The Lord smiled warmly and nodded repeatedly.
“Well, you’re our future, so of course we must attend.”
“Our future? What do you mean?”
At my question, Master cleared his throat.
“Ahem. That’s how it stands.”
“Ah….”
Only then did I understand the situation.
Master must have spoken to the Lord about me.
Of course, having delivered the operational funds left behind by the Ancestor, there was no way he could have avoided mentioning it to the Lord.
“Thanks to your generosity, our operations have been able to breathe freely—we’re truly grateful.”
“That’s hardly my doing. It’s the Ancestor’s legacy.”
As we exchanged pleasantries, the conversation naturally shifted to the topic of Ha Young Lady.
“By the way, does your Elder Brother truly have feelings for Ha Escort Master?”
I was grateful that the Lord brought up the subject of Ha Escort Master first, as I had been uncertain how to broach it.
“It seems to be the case. In truth, my Elder Brother is genuinely indifferent to things that don’t interest him. But if even you’ve noticed, it must be certain.”
“Then that’s fortunate. But…what do you think your parents’ intentions might be?”
My Father and Mother’s intentions—the Lord would naturally be concerned about this.
Ha Young Lady was merely the daughter of an ordinary Pyo Bureau chief.
“My parents don’t concern themselves with such matters. And our family tradition doesn’t encourage political marriages either.”
After all, my Elder Brother’s Wife was the daughter of a small martial arts school.
And at this point, I suspect Father and Mother already know.
Perhaps they’re waiting for Jin-ho to speak first?
“Then that’s a relief, but….”
“However, I’m concerned about something else.”
“…?”
At my words, the Lord and Master looked at me.
“This may seem somewhat abrupt, but I’d like Ha Escort Master to receive a pulse diagnosis.”
“A pulse diagnosis? Does that mean the child is ill?”
“I cannot say with certainty, but when I greeted Ha Escort Master earlier, something felt amiss. I believe it would be wise to invite Black Flute Physician to conduct a proper examination.”
Both men’s expressions grew grave at my words.
This should be enough to set the stage.
I took my leave from the two men and departed the Changin Escort Agency.
Now it was time to visit the General Store Elder.

“You came?”
The old man had been gazing out the window from his chair, and the moment he saw me, he tossed out those words.
Though it might have sounded curt, warmth resonated in his voice.
I withdrew an invitation from my sleeve and held it out. “I’m hosting a birthday banquet. You’ll attend, won’t you?”
“I’m throwing a birthday dinner party. You’ll come, won’t you?”
“A birthday banquet? Hasn’t your birthday already passed?”
“Yes, it has.”
So he does know when my birthday is.
“Yet you know when my birthday is, and you haven’t even prepared a gift for me?”
“Have you ever prepared a gift for my birthday?”
“…”
Ah, fair point.
“How could I prepare something when I don’t even know when your birthday is? And you’ve never told me.”
“Did you ask?”
I hadn’t.
“When is your birthday? I’ll prepare something for you from now on.”
“Find it out yourself.”
“Pardon?”
“If you discover my true birthday, I’ll give you a fine treasure.”
“I’ll certainly find it out.”
The fact that he said “true birthday” rather than simply “birthday” suggested that the birthday most people knew was a false one.
“So, will you not attend my birthday banquet?”
At my question, the old man quickly snatched the invitation and spoke. “Are you not busy? Go on, get going.”
“Yes, I’m leaving.”
Yes. I’m going. Let’s go.
I chuckled softly. Still so reluctant to be honest.
As I rose to leave, the old man spoke again. “By the way, I hear you’ve made quite the impression this time. You’ve buried that whelp from the Namgung Family.”
“I didn’t do it directly… and besides, it was of his own making.”
He was arrested by imperial decree, after all.
“Why would someone who showed little interest in such matters suddenly take an interest?”
“Pardon?”
“Don’t you think it’s because you participated?”
“Don’t you think it’s because you participated?”
“Ah….”
I scratched my cheek.
It was a point that made sense.
“So in the end, you buried that fellow from the Namgung Family.”
How did it come to that?
Yet there was an unmistakable edge to the Old Man’s tone.
“Do you perhaps dislike the Namgung Family?”
“….”
He didn’t answer, but I heard the answer nonetheless.
“Well then, I shall take my leave. I look forward to seeing you at my birthday banquet.”
“Go or stay as you wish.”
Yes, yes.
I chuckled softly and left the General Store.
.
.
.
I had set my birthday banquet for the end of the eleventh month.
Since some guests would be traveling from afar, I wanted to allow them adequate time.
And five days before the birthday banquet.
As I rose from my seat after completing my morning cultivation, my Master entered my separate pavilion.
“You’ve come?”
“Yes.”
But my Master’s expression was far from pleasant.
Could it be?
“Your father-in-law visited yesterday. And as you suggested, I asked him to take Sumin’s pulse.”
My Master paused for a moment, then fixed me with a steady gaze and asked.
“How did you know?”
“Know what?”
“How did you know about Sumin’s condition and tell your father-in-law to examine her pulse?”
“…What condition is it?”
My Master answered with a grave expression.
“Triple yin pulse obstruction.”
“But if it’s pulse obstruction….”
“Yes, ordinarily pulse obstruction manifests visibly. However, Sumin’s case involves a hidden triple yin pulse obstruction—a rare condition. Your father-in-law said that if the illness had become apparent, it would already be beyond treatment.”
My Master sighed and continued.
“How on earth did you know?”
“In truth, when I saw that Escort Master yesterday, I felt an inexplicable sense of oppression. As if something were completely blocked. That’s how I sensed her condition was not well.”
“….”
“But since she appeared healthy on the surface, I thought it best to invite the Black Flute Physician.”
“I see.”
“I’m not entirely certain myself, but I suspect my unique constitution allowed me to perceive something others could not.”
“Ah, if it’s due to that constitution, then it makes sense.”
A look of partial understanding crossed his face.
“In any case, it’s fortunate the illness was discovered early, though Ha Pyo-doo must be quite distressed.”
“Indeed, he must be. Still, I’m grateful a treatment method exists.”
“The Black Flute Physician truly lives up to his reputation.”
“However, the matter is far from resolved. Apparently, the treatment requires a high-grade medicinal elixir infused with yang qi.”
At those words, I broke into a subtle smile.
That wouldn’t be a problem.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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